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IELTS Writing Task 2 | How Parents Influence Child Development

IELTS Writing Test Task 2 Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:

Although parents are principally responsible for raising their children, there are other outside influences which play a key role in the development of children.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.


Points to consider:
  • Which outside influences?
  • Grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc.
  • School, teachers, classmates, etc.
  • Other authority figures: coach, tutor, etc.
  • Environment: community, socio economic level, culture, etc.
  • What degree of influence do these sources have on a child?

Sample Essay Answer

A child is the product of their social environment and the people they come into contact with during their formative years. It is not only the parents who influence a child but also other people with whom the child comes into contact. Although parents may be the primary influence, they by no means are the only source of influence in regards to the child’s development.

Parents are the legal guardians and often exert the most influence on the development of their children. However, there are many other individuals and institutions which also contribute to the social formation of a child. These include extended family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other people children encounter in their daily lives such as teachers, tutors, coaches, and classmates.

Children are also heavily influenced by their immediate community, socioeconomic status, religious and other cultural beliefs, and values held in the community. All these factors play a part in influencing and forming a child’s social values and beliefs as well as their cognitive and physical development, to varying degrees.

While parents may be seen as the primary source of guidance and social education, they are by no means the only source of influence in the development of a child, although they are the predominant influence in most cases.

In conclusion, parental influence is undeniable and predominant in the formation of a child’s outlook on life and all aspects of their physical and mental development. However, the wider society which the child comes into contact with also has its part to play in shaping the child’s character, values, and beliefs.


IELTS writing practice

Try answering this IELTS Task 2 question about changing careers.


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